BNP Paribas
hosted its inaugural Sustainable Future Forum in Singapore in late October,
bringing together leading corporates, institutions and development experts to
discuss and debate the opportunities and challenges arising from the $US5
trillion to $US7 trillion required to fund the United Nations’ (UN) Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs).
Topics discussed
included: how the SDGs can be used to guide business purpose and unlock
shareholder value; the role of private sector capital in financing sustainable
economic development; and the evolution of green finance from a “nice to have”
to a fundamental component of the financial system we need.
BNP Paribas’
Chief Executive Officer for Asia Pacific, Eric Raynaud said: “With China’s
clear signaling at September’s G20 meeting in Hangzhou that Green Finance will
play an increasing role in its funding mix, we see Asia as poised for a major
evolution in how companies and financial institutions look at sustainability.
These issues have moved well beyond Corporate Social Responsibility departments
and our clients are now looking at how they can align business purpose around a
more long-term approach, for long-term profitability.”
